Parker Named Perfect Game's Freshman Of The Year
June 09, 2026 | Baseball
STARKVILLE – Perfect Game picked Mississippi State's Jacob Parker as its National Freshman of the Year on Tuesday.
Parker clubbed a freshman record 18 home runs this year to go along with a .339 batting average and 62 RBIs. He is the fourth Diamond Dawg to be named National Freshman of the Year and first since Christian MacLeod in 2020.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder from Purvis is the first rookie to receive the Freshman of the Year honor from Perfect Game since J.T. Ginn in 2019.
Parker appeared in 53 games and made 44 starts this spring. Parker finished second on the Diamond Dawgs in homers and RBIs as well as third in batting average and stolen bases (seven). He also added 10 doubles and one triple to his totals.
In addition to his Perfect Game honor, Parker was also tabbed as a first team Freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), first team All-Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), Freshman All-SEC, the Most Outstanding Player of the Starkville Regional and also selected as the SEC Freshman of the Week on March 23. He is also a Midseason second team All-American by Perfect Game and one of five finalists to be Baseball America's Freshman of the Year.
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
